New constitution a boon for Muslims-Sheikh Hammad

Retired Chief Kadhi Sheikh Hammad Muhammad Kassim retreated back to pre- referendum Kadhi courts debate saying those opposed to the courts had lost sight on its contribution to delivery of justice in the country.

He said despite handling matters of divorce, inheritance and marriage, the courts had played a crucial role in dispensing justice without delay in the Muslims community in the country for several decades.

Speaking during the closing of the annual Quran memorization competition at Makadara grounds, Mombasa over the weekend, Sheikh Kassim said the endorsement of the new constitution at the referendum and its subsequent promulgation on Friday was a great achievement for Muslims in the country.

He also said the move is a wake up call to other Muslims in the neighbouring countries of Tanzania and Uganda to push their governments to entrench the courts in their countries' constitutions.

"There is no fear about the Kadhi courts and the resounding passage of the new constitution with the Kadhi courts in place at referendum was a clear message that the court is only meant to deliver justice," he told the gathering including Muslims scholars from Uganda , Zanzibar and Tanzania , Rwanda and Congo.

Sheikh Hammad called for cordial relationship between Kenyans of different religious backgrounds as the country embraces new constitutional changes and asked Muslims to fully participate in the implementation of the new constitution.

While asking them to desist from indulging into worldly pleasure, the retired Chief Kadhi directed the faithful to guide their lives along the path of Islam as stipulated in the Holy Quran and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

In the competition which entered its eighth edition this year, Muhammad Maalim Hassan from Migori, Nyanza and Rahma Ali Mahmoud of Munawarah Al-Islamiyah, Mombasa emerged the winners in the event that brought participants from East and Central African countries.

Muhammad emerged the winner in the competition among male participants and was awarded two packages worth Sh600,000 for his parents to undertake the pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah. He also earned a cash prize of Sh20,000.

Amour Yusuf Mashi from Zanzibar was the only foreign participant to finish among the top five, taking second position to claim Sh63,000 with Abdulaziz Hassan Mohammad of Kenya in third place taking away a cash prize of Sh50,000.

In the ladies category, Rahma Ali Mahmoud of Madrasatul Munawarah of Mombasa finished top and won a package to the pilgrimage to Makkah and Sh25,000 with Zeinab Khalfan Khamis and Khadhra Ishaaq Sheikh, all from Madrasatul Qur'an Karim of Muthaiga, Nairobi finishing second and third and won Sh20,000 and Sh15,000 respectively.

Others who won the Hajj packages were Hashim Abdul- Qadir Hashim from Mtito Andei, Abdul-Aziz Ali Khamis from Majlis Maarif, Kikambala Abubakar Idris Yusuf a student of Darul- Quran, Voi and Ikrama Abdul-Aziz Omar of Madrasatul Munawarah Mombasa who emerged the winner in the 15 Juzu (parts) category among female participants.

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